Energy prices stay stubbornly high, winters feel longer, and the race is on for heating systems that actually justify their running costs. While underfloor heating once looked like the gold standard for comfort, a different, more discreet technology is starting to steal the show — and it does it from the very edge of your walls.
Why underfloor heating is losing its shine
Underfloor heating still has clear strengths: gentle warmth, invisible hardware, and a cosy feel underfoot. Yet for many households, the downsides are catching up.
- Installation often means tearing up floors, with significant labour and disruption.
- It can react slowly when you raise or lower the temperature.
- Retrofitting in older buildings can be complex and expensive.
- Repairs, when needed, may require breaking into floors again.
In countries like Italy, where much of the housing stock is older masonry, families are looking for something easier to fit, faster to control, and less risky to maintain. That search is driving interest towards an option many people have never even heard of.
The surprising alternative: skirting board heating
The system attracting attention sits where you would least expect it: along the base of your walls. Skirting board heating, sometimes called baseboard perimeter heating, transforms that slim strip of trim into an active heating element.
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Instead of bulky radiators or pipes buried deep under tiles, the heat runs through compact units integrated into the skirting. These can contain either hot-water pipes connected to a boiler or heat pump, or electric resistors powered by the mains.
Skirting board heating turns the entire room perimeter into a low-level, continuous heat source, wrapping the space in a gentle thermal envelope.
By running around the edges of the room, the system doesn’t just warm the air. It also raises the temperature of the walls themselves, which changes how we feel the heat.
How it actually heats a room
The principle sounds simple, but it works on a few clever physical effects:
- Warm air rises gently from the skirting line, hugging the walls.
- The walls absorb part of this heat and slowly radiate it back into the room.
- The air mixes more evenly, without strong hot and cold pockets.
This combination of mild convection and radiant warmth can make a room feel comfortable at lower thermostat settings than with traditional radiators.
Many users report feeling warm at 18–19°C room temperature where they previously needed 20–21°C with classic radiators.
Why people say it “heats better”
Heating “better” rarely means blasting out more heat. It usually means getting the same comfort with less energy, fewer draughts and a more even temperature. Skirting board heating scores well on all three.
Key advantages over both radiators and underfloor systems
| Aspect | Radiators | Underfloor heating | Skirting board heating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat distribution | Local hot spots | Even, from the floor | Even, along walls |
| Perceived comfort | Can feel stuffy or dry | Comfortable, slow | Comfortable, responsive |
| Installation in existing homes | Moderate | Intrusive, costly | Less intrusive, along walls |
| Impact on furniture layout | Radiators take up wall space | None on walls | Minimal, skirting-level |
| Potential energy savings* | Baseline | Good with low-temperature source | Often 20–30% vs old systems |
*Savings depend on insulation, energy tariffs and how the system is managed.
Because the whole perimeter emits heat, surfaces warm up evenly. That reduces the classic problem of a hot head and cold feet, or a toasty corner by the radiator while the sofa side stays chilly.
Where the savings come from
The promise of a 20–30% cut in energy use compared with old radiator setups attracts many homeowners, especially in high-bill winters. Those savings do not come from magic technology, but from basic thermodynamics and behaviour.
- More uniform warmth means you feel comfortable at a lower set temperature.
- Lower average operating temperature cuts energy needs, especially with condensing boilers or heat pumps.
- Warm walls reduce cold radiation from surfaces, which usually makes you turn up the thermostat.
The real gain is psychological as much as technical: if you feel warm at 19°C, you stop fighting for 22°C on the thermostat.
There is also a building-health angle. Warm wall surfaces tend to stay drier. That reduces condensation risk and limits the conditions that favour mould growth in cold corners or behind furniture.
Practical upsides inside the home
Freedom to arrange furniture
Radiators often dictate where you place a sofa, a bed or shelving. Skirting board heating sits lower and is usually slimmer than a radiator, so it interferes less with furniture layouts. You still need to leave some space for airflow, but you’re not sacrificing an entire wall to a metal panel.
Compatible with modern heat sources
Hydronic skirting systems, which use hot water, can pair well with gas boilers, biomass boilers or heat pumps. With a heat pump, running at lower water temperatures can boost efficiency. That synergy is one reason energy consultants in Italy and other European countries are starting to mention skirting solutions in renovation plans.
Not a magic bullet: what to check before choosing
Despite the buzz, skirting board heating is not the right answer for every building. A few points need careful thought.
- Energy source: Electric skirting units can be convenient but may cost more to run on expensive tariffs.
- Insulation level: In a poorly insulated house, any system will struggle. You may still need wall or roof upgrades.
- Room layout: Very open-plan spaces with few internal walls may need more careful design to ensure enough output.
- Installation quality: As with underfloor heating, poor sizing or bad installation can wipe out the potential benefits.
Cost varies widely depending on whether you choose water-based or electric systems, and whether you are renovating anyway. For someone already planning to repaint, add insulation or redo skirting boards, the extra step of integrating heating can be easier to justify.
What a real-world scenario might look like
Picture a 90 m² flat from the 1970s with old steel radiators and single-glazed windows. The owners decide to replace the boiler with a modern condensing model and add skirting board heating in the living room and bedrooms, keeping traditional radiators only in the bathroom.
They also improve the windows and seal obvious draughts. The new system runs at lower water temperatures, around 45–50°C instead of the old 70–75°C. Comfort improves, especially in corners that used to feel cold. After a full heating season, gas use drops by around 25%. Some of that comes from the new boiler and better windows, but the more efficient heat distribution also plays a role.
Key terms that help make sense of it all
Two technical ideas often come up when people assess these systems:
- Convection: heat transfer through the movement of air. Radiators rely heavily on this, creating currents that move warm air upwards and cooler air downwards.
- Radiant effect: heat that travels directly from warm surfaces to your body, like sunlight on your skin. Warm walls in a skirting system provide this subtle yet powerful benefit.
Skirting board heating leans on both. It nudges air upwards along walls while also turning those walls into mild radiant panels. That mix creates comfort at lower energy input, which is the real metric that matters on your bill.
How it combines with other measures
The biggest gains usually come when skirting board heating is part of a broader renovation strategy. Pairing it with external wall insulation, new windows or a heat pump can multiply the benefits. In a well-insulated home, a relatively small amount of low-temperature heat goes a long way.
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For households planning step-by-step improvements over several years, skirting systems offer a flexible option. You can start with one or two rooms, monitor energy use and comfort, then extend the system later if the results match expectations. That staged approach reduces risk and gives time to fine-tune tariffs and controls.
